Apps for the Expectant Mom

By Melissa Bellach

Moms turn to lots of places for advice. Our own mothers, our friends, Dr. Google and, of course, our smartphones. “I had a million questions and wanted to track everything. It was nice to have that little bit of security right there on my phone,” says Joy Husher, Shawnee mom. With all the apps out there, a newly expectant mom can have a lot to sort through to find the best ones. Kansas City’s moms waded through the technology to come up with a list of their favorites!

What to Expect. This app takes you through the pregnancy journey day by day and week by week. It sends you due date-personalized content regarding health information, parenting news and support tools. What many metro moms like best about this app is the community of parents who use it to connect. “When I found out I was expecting, I downloaded a ton of apps,” says Jessica Gallina, Overland Park mom. “I ended up using the What to Expect app the most. I liked the countdown and I really liked the local boards. I also posted to ask if anyone wanted to start a Facebook page so we could get together and help each other during our pregnancies and, once we had little ones, start doing play dates! It's been two years now, and we have more than a 100 moms in our group!” This app is free for iPhone and Android.

BabyBump Pregnancy. Having strange food cravings? Starting to see swelling in your ankles? This app lets you know what symptoms to expect in your pregnancy week by week. Moms love that it also counts down the days until baby’s due date. This app is free for iPhone and Android.

Pregnancy/Sprout. If you are curious about how your little one looks as he or she develops week to week, this is the app for you! This app offers full-screen, 3-D interactives of your baby.

Ovia Pregnancy Tracker. This high-tech app offers you immediate feedback on your progress by tracking your weight, sleep, symptoms and more. “As a first time mom, I love that each day it tells me what I can expect to happen with my body and baby,” says Marcella Garner, Kansas City, MO, expectant mom. “It tells me exactly what's going to happen at my next appointment. Everything has been so spot-on. It includes helpful articles to read about a variety of things such as genetic testing, best sleeping positions, natural remedies for headaches, all sorts of things. I can log my weight, my sleep, ultrasound pics, belly pics. So, it can be like a memory book as well. It's been extremely informative!”
I'm Pregnant. A kick counter, packing checklists, a diary, a weight tracker and a week-by-week log of what to expect in your body and in your baby’s development are all included in this app. It is free for Android.

Melissa Bellach is a freelance writer, journalist and mom of two living in Overland Park.